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September 13, 2004
Monday Reader Mail: 12
By QBlog in Reader Mail
Today's Reader Mail is a little out of the ordinary. It's a request from "Tom" who is translating Rich DeVos's Directly Speaking tapes into his native language. Read his question and if you can answer, post a comment here and I'll send him an email (or he'll see it here if he's reading this).
name: TomMy guess is that 419 is some sort of tax code but I honestly have no idea. Can anyone give Tom some help?
date: September 11, 2004message: Hi QBlog, I am taking advantage of your site to ask for a little help. I am translating Rich DeVos' Directly Speaking transcripts into my language and have problems with one particular sentence.
Rich says: "Number one, clean up your act. And number two, if you know people who are continuing to do things improperly after all of this, then I want you to write us a note and just tell us who's doing it. Don't -- I don't need 419's right now."
Would you please drop me a line or two and explain what does the number refer to? Not being an American, I did not manage to find out anything on the Internet that would help me understand. Well, I hope you will get a chance to write back as time permits. Wishing you best of luck in your future endeavours.
Tom, frequent QBlog visitor from Europe.
By the way, isn't it cool that the Directly Speaking transcripts are being translated into other languages? Wonder if Quixtar or Amway would lend a hand in that effort? ;o)
Comments
I think it is a reference to the good 'ol Nigerian 4-1-9 scam. Readers of Marks will surely remember that one. 419 is the section of the Nigerian Penal Code that specifically outlaws that form of wire fraud.
"419s" refers to the form number for the Amway form used to file a complaint about other distributors. E.g. "If you don't quit promoting tapes to my downline I'm going to file a 419 on you."
This is very briefly explained in the Gommeringer v. Amway lawsuit. See http://www.amquix.info/aus/gommerin.htm
That's really interesting.
If the "419" is the official "complaint form", Rich is saying, even in light of this huge, alleged crackdown that was happening/about to happen back in '82, "just send us a post-it note", no official complaint is necessary.
Yeah, they were REALLY SERIOUS about clening house.
Waymee, was Nigerian scam prevalent in early 80s ?
The Nigerian 419 scam has been around since the early 80's, but I am uncertain about "prevalent". Thanks lawDawg for the link. The Nigerian scam is the first thing I think of when I hear 419.
Hi all, thank you all for your comments. In the meantime, Scott of amquix.info confirmed to me that 419 indeed was an Amway form.
My guess was that it referred to the rules of conduct section. It may have then but now that section is empty.
If so, then "I don't need 4.19's" could refer to notification of a rule breaker. Just my guess...
Posted by: Inheriter | September 13, 2004 12:47 PM